sithkabobed | IC CONTACT

"No," Qui-Gon replies evenly, "Progress reports in exchange for advice on how you can improve even further."

Rocks of all shapes and sizes fall completely to the wayside as Qui-Gon leans forward, arms folded neatly in his sleeves, as he addresses Rey face-to-face in a way that comes across as literal and aggravating as humanly possible. He gives Rey some due space, but the respect stops there.

"Unless you're proposing new terms to our deal?"

If "infuriating" is Qui-Gon's goal, then he's succeeding handily. It's only the fact that he doesn't seem actually malicious that keeps Rey from knocking him in the jaw or headbutting him in his smug face. Qui-Gon is harmless, she's sure. Obi-Wan wouldn't trust him if he wasn't. He's just prone to all manner of extraordinarily irritating mischief. It'd almost be better if he was being cruel. Hitting is much simpler than trying to work with this nonsense.

Rey draws herself up as much as she can and squares her shoulders, stubbornly refusing to be baited by his taunt. (Though, in the process of being so insistent about not taking his bait, she is of course, in a way, taking his bait. But shhhh!) In fact, she's going to entirely ignore said taunt. Because that's how little she cares about it!!

"I don't need advice, thanks. I've got someone for that."

Hitting maybe be simpler, but the consequences thereof (and life in general) are not. Qui-Gon sees that as unfortunate as Rey does, believe it or not. That doesn't stop him from reaping the benefits of providing the nonsense, though.

"Fair enough," Qui-Gon concedes as he draws himself back up to his full height, his need to be annoying appropriately satiated, "However, if you find this 'someone' unsatisfactory, or if you feel they aren't showing you enough, you know where you can find me."

He tilts his head towards the pile of rocks.

"That is only the beginning, after all."

Rey crinkles her nose at Qui-Gon with a smug sniff, clearly deeming herself the victor in this encounter. Nevermind the fact that it's more of a dignified retreat on his part. But really, that's about as close to victory as she's ever gotten with Qui-Gon, so she'll take it.

"He shows me what I've asked to be shown," she replies sharply, too preoccupied with getting in that last jab at the Jedi to realize she's said he. Oh well, at least Qui-Gon already knows who's giving her advice. She'll be annoyed about the unintentional pronoun later. Right about the time she starts getting annoyed about having to actually defend Kylo Ren's capability as a teacher.

"That's satisfactory enough for me."

"You cannot ask for what you do not know," Qui-Gon reminds Rey.

The balance exercise, although commonplace in the Temple, is only one of many different regimens the Initiates have to undergo as part of their training. Granted, this is no ordinary apprenticeship (if Rey could even be seen as a 'proper' apprentice), but his point still stands.

Rey can never expand her horizons without opening herself--not to the individuals she's sought help from thus far, but to the necessary vulnerability and humility it takes to ask about their knowledge.

Rey opens her mouth to retort... and then closes it, glaring sullenly at Qui-Gon. What could she possibly say to that? She can't tell him he's wrong. He's not wrong. Even with Kylo, she doesn't really know specifically what he'll show her next time they meet. For all she knows it'll be these stupid "balancing exercises."

She can't ask for what she doesn't know. And that's the whole problem, isn't it? There's so, so much she doesn't know. Rey's jaw tightens, all the victory melting out of her posture as she withdraws into something more defensive.

"Yeah. Well—" she starts, struggling for a comeback before she spits out the first thing that comes to her head.

"Maybe I don't like to be reminded every day of how much I don't know. Did you ever think of that? Maybe some days I get tired of it!"

"No, I did not."

Enjoy that extra dose of honesty, Rey. Qui-Gon may be as shadier than a Hutt, but at least he doesn't lie. Much.

"I apologize for my hand in making you feel that way. I should have paid more attention and practiced restraint."

Despite the words he picked, Qui-Gon's apology is anything but trite. With the way his brow furrows just slightly and his insistence on keeping eye contact with Rey, it's apparent that he means every single word. He's caused her pain, however unwittingly, and it's a wrong that needs to be set right.

The instant Qui-Gon replies, Rey realizes she's said too much. Because he actually seems sincere, and that's even harder to deal with than when he's being cryptic. At least cryptic she's used to. Cryptic she can respond to. She doesn't know how to handle this.

Maintaining eye contact leaves her feeling too vulnerable, so she breaks it, looking down and away and any other direction than at the Jedi while she tries to figure out what to say.

"It isn't exactly easy living with Jedi, you know," she starts, frustration still obvious in her voice but with much less anger.

"You do these things so easily—children do them—and I can't. Everyone can do more, everyone knows more. And you all just... take it for granted." She pauses, swallowing a lump in her throat.

"At least I can hit Kylo when he makes me feel like a fool."

"You're right," Qui-Gon concedes, the usual calm present in his tone taking on the softer edge of empathy, although not of pity, thankfully. "And nobody should be making you feel like a fool for something out of your control. Seeing as I've done the same, you again have my sincere apology."

No free pass to hit him though, Rey, sorry.

"Is that why you were hesitant to ask one of us for help in your Force training?"

It's a question born out of simple curiosity and nothing more. There's no hint of accusation or judgment, just a wish to know and understand Rey a little bit better–or at least however much she's willing to share.

IC CONTACT

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject